Living Computer Museum + Labs
Historical museums often face challenges engaging young people. The Living Computers Museum + Labs aims to bridge this gap and inspire the next generation of technologists by not only preserving and displaying working vintage computers, but by making technology accessible through fun, friendly interactive environments.
Established by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, the museum needed a renovation and expansion to reach a wider audience and round out STEAM education by encouraging kids—especially girls—to pursue careers in technology. NBBJ, in collaboration with interior architect Tiscareno Associates and exhibit designer Curious Beast, was tasked with shaping the experience of the museum: how people enter, move through the building and encounter the exhibits. By focusing on the environmental graphics and overall user experience, we helped unify the interior design, casework, wall text, digital displays and interactive components into a cohesive, immersive encounter with computer technology.
Features
On the first floor, visitors gain hands-on experience in robotics, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), convolutional neural networks, Big Data, self-driving cars, digital art and more. Where possible, surprise and delight were brought to the interactive design—for instance, robots controlled not by joystick but by capacitive text that responds when visitors touch “Left” or “Right.”
Project Details
Client Name
Vulcan
Square Footage
15,000 SF
Program
Physical and digital interactives, main exhibit floor, lab space, gift shop, lobby reception
Services
Environmental graphic design, user experience
Phase
Completed
Client Name
Vulcan
Square Footage
15,000 SF
Program
Physical and digital interactives, main exhibit floor, lab space, gift shop, lobby reception
Services
Environmental graphic design, user experience
Phase
Completed
SEGD Finalist
SEGD Finalist
